Asked whether an administration staff change-up would ameliorate this latest crisis, a Republican source formerly involved with a pro-Trump political group told The Daily Beast, “yes, if it comes with a frontal lobotomy for Trump.”

"As I have stated many times, a thorough investigation will confirm what we already know – there was no collusion between my campaign and any foreign entity," Mr. Trump said in a statement issued by the White House. "I look forward to this matter concluding quickly.

From the Reuters story on the WH interest in using "an obscure ethics rule" to limit Mueller probe:

Within hours of Mueller's appointment on Wednesday, the White House began reviewing the Code of Federal Regulations, which restricts newly hired government lawyers from investigating their prior law firm’s clients for one year after their hiring, the sources said.

An executive order signed by Trump in January extended that period to two years.

Mueller's former law firm, WilmerHale, represents Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who met with a Russian bank executive in December, and the president's former campaign manager Paul Manafort, who is a subject of a federal investigation.

One of these two men is currently a senior WH advisor close to Trump; one is not.

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

"It can be difficult to advise the President effectively given his seemingly short attention span and propensity to be easily distracted. You can't say what not to say, because that will then be one of the first things he'll say." - White House official

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

Trump's allergic to the word "no" (that's why he focuses on it). And not used to repercussions for wrongdoing, because what he can't handle (at least what's left after placing the blame on others), his mind turns into a "win". It's hopeless...

Last edited by scrmbldggs on Sat May 20, 2017 1:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

Russian officials bragged in conversations during the presidential campaign that they had cultivated a strong relationship with former Trump adviser retired Gen. Michael Flynn and believed they could use him to influence Donald Trump and his team, sources told CNN.

The conversations deeply concerned US intelligence officials, some of whom acted on their own to limit how much sensitive information they shared with Flynn, who was tapped to become Trump's national security adviser, current and former governments officials said.

"This was a five-alarm fire from early on," one former Obama administration official said, "the way the Russians were talking about him." Another former administration official said Flynn was viewed as a potential national security problem.

The conversations picked up by US intelligence officials indicated the Russians regarded Flynn as an ally, sources said. That relationship developed throughout 2016, months before Flynn was caught on an intercepted call in December speaking with Russia's ambassador in Washington, Sergey Kislyak. That call, and Flynn's changing story about it, ultimately led to his firing as Trump's first national security adviser.

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

Dershowitz* and Santorum are on CNN whining about leaking - apparently the major issue in all this, whilst Devin Nunes continues to abuse his chairmanship to investigate Susan Rice's alleged "unmasking" violations, the second most important issue facing investigators.

* years ago I read that Dershowitz had a teacher in high school who advised him (paraphrasing) "Alan, you're not very bright, but you're highly verbal, you'll make a good lawyer"

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

Damn it, why does Trump fall for ugly spies like Flynn and Kislyak?Admit it, we had all hoped that Melania would turn out to be a new Mata Hari.

I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:

Spoiler:

1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.- Douglas Adams

Statistical Mechanic wrote:Has to be Kushner. That is the best news in days It has to be Kushner.

Couldn't be Flynn? I sure HOPE it's Kushner.

"When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never let yourself be diverted, either by what you wish to believe, or by what you think would have beneficent social effects if it were believed. But look only, and solely, at what are the facts."

I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:

Spoiler:

1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.2. Anything that's invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.- Douglas Adams

This is sadly typical of Fox News-watching Trump supporters who imagine they are financial geniuses.

But, speaking of crowds, given the large number of demoralized people in the White House, wouldn't it be nice if they just resigned en masse? Surely that would make some dent in the hard skulls of Trump supporters.

"When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never let yourself be diverted, either by what you wish to believe, or by what you think would have beneficent social effects if it were believed. But look only, and solely, at what are the facts."

"When you are studying any matter, or considering any philosophy, ask yourself only what are the facts and what is the truth that the facts bear out. Never let yourself be diverted, either by what you wish to believe, or by what you think would have beneficent social effects if it were believed. But look only, and solely, at what are the facts."

Lots of lamentation amongst media types that Mueller's investigation will be professional and air-tight, in the sense that the FBI under Mueller's direction and Mueller's staff will investigate, determinations within the investigating groups will be made, and charges will be filed or not at the end - with nary a leak or peep until that time. I doubt this. Trump has enemies, people have interests counter his, the media organizations have reporters, there are congressional committees looking into matters, Trump has a big mouth (thus that old adage "follow the big mouth"), etc. I think we won't be having two, three bombshells a day for the next year, but I don't think the publicity wars are over and done with.

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

POLITICO reports that Trump has a trusted way of taking the pulse of the country “beyond the Beltway”: he talks to people.

To whom does he reach out? Steelworkers in northern Ohio? Union leaders in Indiana? Retail clerks in western Pennsylvania? Day laborers in Detroit? Construction crew members in Houston? Farmers in Nebraska?

Another thought on this: in January, a named target of an FBI investigation worked as a senior official in the Trump administration, Michael Flynn.

Shortly after Trump's inauguration, Sally Yates warned the White House about this situation. She has since explained that she expected prompt White House action - one can speculate: removal of Flynn from office or, short of that, withdrawal of security clearance, some sort of administrative suspension, etc. To ensure that the risk presented by Flynn's compromised position would not eventuate in actual wrongdoing, oh, like making further policy decisions on behalf of other governments. Just sayin'.

The White House, however, took no action on the law enforcement warnings about Flynn instead keeping him in office and allowing him to participate in senior-level deliberations with full access to intelligence. As though he were not under FBI investigation.

So now we have a senior advisor to Trump targeted by the FBI. We don't know for what, but possibilities are financial crimes, collusion with Russian officials, or covering up activities under investigation. We do know how Trump has said he feels about having people under FBI scrutiny in federal office (see under: Crooked Hillary). But once again, as with Flynn, apparently no action is being taken. To our knowledge, this senior official - who presents a risk (security, reliability, etc) - continues in office, retains access to state secrets, and remains involved in policy and other deliberations on a business as usual basis.

#MAGA #draintheswamp

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

Bannon: "McClatchy has already reported that the FBI is looking into the role of Breitbart in amplifying Russian propaganda during the campaign." (note overlap with reporting from The Guardian on the Mercers, for which The Guardian will apparently be sued)

Kushner: failure to disclose on his security-clearance application meetings with Russian officials; role in Comey firing; Bannon's statement “that he believes Mr. Kushner’s contact with Russians, and his expected testimony before Congress on the subject, will become a major distraction for the White House” (NY Times); we can speculate about financial investigation reaching Kushner as well

Goldberg concludes, "Personally, as much as I would love to see the slovenly fascist Bannon driven from public life, I hope the target is Kushner. . . . . Maybe Kushner should get moving on prison reform while he has the chance."

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

Ev Williams, founder of Blogger and co-founder of Twitter, on what he/we hath wrought:

The trouble with the internet, Mr. Williams says, is that it rewards extremes. Say you’re driving down the road and see a car crash. Of course you look. Everyone looks. The internet interprets behavior like this to mean everyone is asking for car crashes, so it tries to supply them.

And this:

President Trump has said he believes Twitter put him in the White House. Recently, Mr. Williams heard the claim for the first time. He mulled it over for a bit . . . “It’s a very bad thing, Twitter’s role in that,” he said finally. “If it’s true that he wouldn’t be president if it weren’t for Twitter, then yeah, I’m sorry.”

You know, my dear Colonel General, I don't really believe that the Russians will attack at all. It's all an enormous bluff. - Heinrich Himmler to Heinz Guderian, December 1944

That elusive 'senior WH advisor close to Trump' - it's he who decided to fire Comey. Not the one who said he was advised to do so. Same guy who asked for Flynn to be let off the hook. Not the guy who said 'No. No I didn't do that'...